One especially brutal week in a Chicago winter some years ago colored my conception of Midwestern winters. On a rational level, I know that average temperatures in Chicago are not meaningfully lower than those in New England, but that knowledge does not mitigate my fear. When I got news in November that I’d have to spend close to a month…

♥ Nothing Is More American Than Chinese Food on Christmas (The New York Times): “Chinese food on Christmas has become … an acceptable alternative for anyone looking outside the usual holiday celebrations … It seems like proof that Chinese food and culture is finally part of mainstream America: Chinese restaurants have managed to become as culturally American as milk and…